Connecting part for shaped structural bodies made from synthetic material, especially for shaped structural bodies of frame-type make-up

ABSTRACT

A connecting part for shaped structural bodies, especially those formed of a synthetic material. In a preferred embodiment, each connecting part is formed of plastic material in the form of a substantially cylindrical base supporting a plurality of projections each of which extends parallel to the symmetrical axis of the base so that each projection can slide into a corresponding recess in a shaped structural body such as a synthetic building block.

United States Patent 191 Heitholt et a1.

[ CONNECTING PART FOR SHAPED STRUCTURAL BODIES MADE FROM SYNTHETIC MATERIAL, ESPECIALLY FOR SHAPED STRUCTURAL BODIES OF FRAME-TYPE MAKE-UP Jurgen Heitholt; Werner Gieb, both of Herford, Germany Richard Heinze, Herford, Germany Filed: May 8, 1972 Appl. No.: 251,210

Inventors:

Assignee:

US. Cl. 52/285, 52/586, 52/753 C Int. Cl E04b 1/48 Field of Search 46/26, 29, 31; 287/2092 C, 20.92 E, 20.92 K; 52/564, 585, 586, 285, 280, 239

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1935 Kotrbaty 72/115 10/1961 Selby 287/2092 E X 6/1962 Causey 46/29 X 1 Jul 16,1974

3,160,249 12/1964 Paulecka 287/2092 K 3,229,335 1/1966 Thome 287/2092 C 3,296,764 1/1967 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,193,407 11/1959 France 608,401 9/1960 Italy Primary Examiner-Henry C. Sutherland Assistant Examiner-Carl D. Friedman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-George Vande Sande [5 7] ABSTRACT A connecting part for shaped structural bodies, especially those formed of a synthetic material. In a preferred embodiment, each connecting part is formed of plastic material in the form of a substantially cylindrical base supporting a plurality of projections each of which extends parallel to the symmetrical axis of the base so that each projection can slide into a corresponding recess in a shaped structural body such as a synthetic building block.

3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJIIUBW 3.823.521 I SHEEI 2 BF 3 FIGS mmmmu m 3.823.521

SHEET 3 BF 3 FIGA CONNECTING PART FOR SHAPED STRUCTURAL BODIES MADE FROM SYNTHETIC MATERIAL, ESPECIALLY FOR SHAPED STRUCTURAL BODIES OF FRAME-TYPE MAKE-UP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention concerns a connecting part for shaped structural bodies made from synthetic material, especially for shaped structural bodies of frame-type make up.

Shaped structural bodies made of concrete to be used as ornamental blocks are known. Such ornamental blocks serve for the construction of facings, fences, frontal covers and the like. Ornamental blocks may be joined with the aid of cement grout, thus forming a rigid union.

A bonding by use of mortar is not practical for shaped structural bodies made from synthetic material. If such shaped structural bodies made from synthetic material are to be used in place of ornamental concrete blocks, it becomes necessary to select a different type of connection in order to make full use of the advantages offered by such bodies in connection with their installation. Employment of an adhesive substance for connecting shaped structural bodies made from synthetic material is one possibility. However, such adhesive connection has the disadvantage that the individual bodies are then no longer detachable and cannot be reused after an installation by use of an adhesive substance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the aim of the invention to create a connecting part for shaped structural bodies made from synthetic material, especially for shaped structural bodies of frame-type makeup which makes feasible the assembly and disassembly of such shaped structural bodies in a simple and safe manner. The connecting part of this invention is designed in such manner that it will permit a safe and precise installation of shaped structural bodies even by unskilled persons..

The invention solves this problem by providing a connecting partjof the above-described type which comprises a substantially cylindrical base with projections fastened thereto which extend parallel to the symmetri cal axis of said base and which are designed to slide in symmetrical-misdirection into, and engage correspondingly formed recesses within, the shaped structural bodies, whereby the projections, as to location and spacing, correspond to the location and spacing of the recesses when the shaped structural bodies are placed side-by-side.

A connecting part of this type can be mass-produced in a most simple manner. It can, for example, be produced from plastic material by means of die-casting. A wall can thus be erected very rapidly and ina most simple manner from shaped structural bodies which are arranged side-by-side and one upon another. For this purpose, the shaped structural bodies to be connected are simply placed close to each other, and the connecting parts of this invention are then inserted into the mating recesses of the shaped structural bodies. If the shaped structural bodies are exposed, it may be expedient to coat the projections, or the recesses to be engaged by the projections, with a small amount of adhesive material. This adhesive material will prevent any easy, manual extraction of the connecting parts, while still making possible, by use of greater force, a separation of the connecting parts from the shaped structural bodies, and thus a disassembly. It is further proposed, for use of the inventive connecting parts in connection with frontal facings, that the base be provided with a passthrough aperture so that bolts can be passed through this aperture and fastened to the masonry to be covered.

It is further proposed by the invention that the base be designed in the form of a foundation plate and that its projections comprise rigid lugs which engage blindend bores of the shaped structural bodies. Connecting parts of this type can be inserted particularly easily and quickly.

In further development of the invention, the lugs are placed at both sides of the foundation plate, thus making it feasible to erect to layers of shaped structural bodies in series. In this case the foundation plate can be accomodated within a proper recess, provided within the sides facing each other, in the mean plane of the compound formed by the shaped structural bodies.

It was found to be expedient to provide a foundation plate with a circular shape and with the lugs as pins in the form of circular cylinders because the interconnection of pieces of such design can more easily be accomplished. An advantageous species of the connecting parthas the feature that one lug is provided for each shaped structural body.

In further development of the invention, it is proposed that the projections be in the form of flat plates or fins, extending parallel to the symmetrical axis of the base, their number being at least twice the number of the shaped structural bodies to be connected, whereby two adjacent fins of a pair are always inclined toward each other at an angle and can be inserted into the matable slots of a single shaped structural body. In case of such species, the base is most appropriately designed in the form of a bushing. In a still different embodiment, it is proposed that the angle of inclination between the fins assigned to one single shaped structural body equals a species which is particularly satisfactory for aesthetic reasons.

Finally, it is proposed by the invention that two adjacent fins, which engage different shaped structural bodies, are to extend parallel to each other.v Such parallel arrangement of the fins will increase further the pleasing, aesthetic appearance of the connecting part.

The species of the invention which utilizes fins can be employed with particular advantages for structures subject to great stresses, for example walls which are subjected to strong winds. Such fins and their bushings can be made very sturdy, and the forces to which they are subjected will, for allpractical purposes, be distributed in a completely uniform manner over the entire connecting part, so that the bushing can be made thinwalled while still insuring great durability of the connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred species of the invention are described in detail in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a connection accomplished by one embodiment of the connecting part of this inven tion;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the connecting part of FIG. 1 along line II-Il of FIG. 1; l

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the section line III- --III OF FIG. 1 but also showing two layers of shaped structural bodies;

FIG. 4 is a frontal view of one corner of a shaped structural body;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the corner illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the corner shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates a second embodiment of the con necting part installed;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the connecting part of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of the connecting part of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The connecting part illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 com prises a circular foundation plate 1 which carries four lugs 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d. The lugs are fixedly connected to the foundation plate 1. This connecting part is most advantageously produced in the form of a one-piece, injection-molded plastic. A pass-through aperture 4 is provided in the center of the connecting part. The lugs are placed symmetrically and parallel to the symmetrical axis of the connecting part.

FIG. 1 shows four shaped structural bodies 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d, pushed together and held at their corner point by the connecting part. The front layer of the shaped structural bodies, illustrated in FIG. 3, is not shown in FIG. 1. For the connection of four shaped structural bodies in one layer, there is required only one connecting part with a foundation plate and four lugs which protrude toward one side. Lugs 5a and 5b which protrude toward two sides, as illustrated in FIG. 3, are needed only if eight shaped structural bodies, that is two layers of four bodies each, are to be connected. FIG. 3 shows how lugs 5a, and 5b respectively, engage the blind-end bores 60 and 6e, and 6a and 6f respectively.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show the corner design of a shaped structural body with a frame-type make-up.

FIG. 7 shows four frames 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d which join each other and are held by one central connecting part. This connecting part comprises a bushing-type base having flat plates, webs, or fins 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e, 7]", 7g and 711 which extend parallel to the symmetrical axis and which protrude radially from the base. In the case of this illustrated embodiment, there are sets of two fins which extend parallel to each other, namely 71) and 7c; 7d and 73; 7fand 7g; 7!: and 7a. The fins which are not parallel to each other, for example 7g and 7h, are inclined toward each other at an angle a. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the angle a equals 90. FIG. 7 shows how the fins are positioned in the corresponding recesses of the shaped structural bodies. For example, the straps 7a and 7b are located in the slots 11a and 11b of the shaped structural body 90. For reasons of clarity, the connecting part is indicated in FIG. 7 by cross-hatching.

The frames are assembled by pushing the frames together and thereupon inserting the connecting part. If desired, the connecting part is coated prior to the insertion with adhesive material so that it will adhere to the several structural bodies when inserted.

While heretofore the precise alignment of building blocks without auxiliary means has been possible only with difficulties, it will now be feasible to place shaped structural bodies made from synthetic material easily and precisely side-by-side and one upon another by using the novel connecting part. This is due to the facts that on the one hand the various shaped structural bodies are always accurately dimensioned, and that on the other hand the connecting part is designed in a very specific manner. This connecting part accomplishes two tasks: It makes feasible a durable connection, and it permits a precise and rapid vertical as well as horizontal alignment of the various shaped structural bodies. By utilizing two-component adhesives which reach their full strength only after an extended period of time, the novel connecting part does guarantee that the shaped structural bodies are held in place precisely and fixedly in their final, desired position.

We claim:

1. In connecting means for interconnecting four shaped structural bodies each having a pair of adjoining planar edge surfaces at right angles to each other for interconnection with their said edge surfaces in abutting relationship with each other and with the bodies being disposed in symmetrical fashion about a common axis coincident with the intersection of the adjoining said edge surfaces of each said body, and with each of said bodies defining therein at least one aperture extending parallel to said common axis, the improvement comprising:

said connecting means comprising a central portion and a plurality of elements projecting from said central portion for slidably insertion into the corresponding mating apertures of each of said structural bodies only in a direction parallel to said common axis,

said central portion comprising a cylindrical longitudinal core member and said projecting elements comprise a plurality of fins extending parallel to said common axis,

two said fins being provided for each interconnected structural body, and

two adjacent fins being adapted for insertion in the corresponding recesses on one said structural body having their plane surfaces angled toward each other.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the angle formed by said two adjacent fins is 3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein two adjacent fins which respectively engage in respective recesses of different structural bodies have their plane surfaces parallel to each other. 

1. In connecting means for interconnecting four shaped structural bodies each having a pair of adjoining planar edge surfaces at right angles to each other for interconnection with their said edge surfaces in abutting relationship with each other and with the bodies being disposed in symmetrical fashion about a common axis coincident with the intersection of the adjoining said edge surfaces of each said body, and with each of said bodies defining therein at least one aperture extending parallel to said common axis, the improvement comprising: said connecting means comprising a central portion and a plurality of elements projecting from said central portion for slidably insertion into the corresponding mating apertures of each of said structural bodies only in a direction parallel to said common axis, said central portion comprising a cylindrical longitudinal core member and said projecting elements comprise a plurality of fins extending parallel to said common axis, two said fins being provided for each interconnected structural body, and two adjacent fins being adapted for insertion in the corresponding recesses on one said structural body having their plane surfaces angled toward each other.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the angle formed by said two adjacent fins is 90*.
 3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein two adjacent fins which respectively engage in respective recesses of different structural bodies have their plane surfaces parallel to each other. 